Description
Week 1 – Foundations & The Process of Care (Intro Week)
Set the framework for how boards think.
- Dental hygiene process of care
- Assessment → Diagnosis → Planning → Implementation → Evaluation
- Ethics & legal scenarios
- Scope of practice
- Community/public health basics
- NDHCE blueprint, expectations, format
Goal: Learn how to break down board-style case questions.
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Week 2 – Head & Neck + Oral Anatomy
You can’t diagnose what you don’t recognize.
- Head & neck anatomy
- Tooth morphology
- Root morphology
- Normal vs developmental variations
- Radiographic landmarks
Board Focus: Identification + anatomical relationships.
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Week 3 – Histology, Embryology & Pathology
Understanding how tissues form and fail.
- Enamel/dentin formation
- Developmental disturbances
- General pathology principles
- Oral pathology (lesion recognition patterns)
Board Focus: “What caused this defect?” type questions.
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Week 4 – Microbiology, Immunology & Infection Control
The disease engine.
- Biofilm
- Inflammatory response
- Periodontal disease progression
- Infection control protocols
- Disease transmission
Board Focus: Mechanisms + prevention decisions.
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Week 5 – Periodontology & Instrumentation
High-yield clinical core.
- Periodontal assessment
- Staging/grading
- Instrument selection
- Fulcrums & adaptation
- Radiographic bone loss interpretation
Board Focus: Case-based periodontal treatment decisions.
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Week 6 – Pharmacology, Pain & Medical Emergencies
Boards LOVE systemic crossover.
- Drug classifications
- Contraindications
- Drug interactions
- Local anesthesia basics
- Medical emergency management
- Special needs modifications
Board Focus: “What should the hygienist do next?”
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Week 7 – Nutrition, Biochemistry & Oral-Systemic Links
This is where boards get sneaky.
- Caries process
- Saliva & remineralization
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, pregnancy
- Xerostomia
Board Focus: Risk factors + patient education scenarios.
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Week 8 – Radiology, Biomaterials & Final Review
Wrap it up + integrate everything.
- Radiation safety
- Interpretation
- Dental materials properties
- Mock board exam
- Case-based review
- Test-taking strategy
Goal: Simulated board pressure + confidence boost.
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